Unitary label assembly of interlinked labels

ABSTRACT

A unitary label assemblage formed of labels interlinked by an adhesive forming frangible nexuses between the label edges, allowing selective individual label separation by breakage of the nexus.

y 1972 J. a. TEMPLETON UNITARY LABEL ASSEMBLY OF INTERLINKED LABELS Filed March 2, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3.

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United "States Patent O1 US. Cl. 16139 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unitary label assemblage formed of labels interlinked by an adhesive forming frangible nexuses between the label edges, allowing selective individual label separation by breakage of the nexus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to labels for clothing and the like, and particularly to joining of labels into a unitary assemblage of separable label parts.

Labels to be attached to clothing and like cloth goods such as toweling or the like are conventionally handled in stacks of large numbers of individual labels. In use, each is removed from the stack manually or mechanically, and attached to the article. Such labels are regularly formed in a variety of configurations and fold patterns. Stacks of labels are relatively unstable, and too frequently, these loose labels become partially or totally disheveled. This causes operational slowdown, operator frustration, loss of stock, and inventory problems, to name a few of the disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a multitude of labels in a unitary assemblage enabling convenient, neat and rapid handling thereof, the label parts of the assemblage being selectively separable into individual labels as for attachment to clothing and the like. The assemblage enables rapid handling to avoid creation of production bottlenecks. The novel assemblage prevents label spillage, retains proper label orientation, and allows constant inventory control, among other advantages. The unitary assemblage can be advanced through an imprinter or other like operational equipment, while indexing at each label. The labels can be advanced to the surface to which they are to be attached without requiring each label to be removed from a retainer and individually transferred. The assemblage can be created from woven or non- Woven labels, printed or unprinted, unfolded, or alternately end folded, center folded, miter folded or otherwise folded.

The unitary assemblage has the individual separable labels adhered edge-to-edge by frangible nexuses. Each nexus has greater strength in adhesion, i.e., to the labels than in cohesion, i.e., within itself, allowing it to break apart neatly at the label edges.

Patented July 4, 1972 These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon studying the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a series of end fold labels assembled according to one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of end fold labels assembled according to a second form of the present invention, and having the adhesive also extending over the fold lines;

'FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled group of labels wherein the adhesive extends over the entire length of the assembly in a third form;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fourth form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth form involving center fold labels;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a series of specially folded labels assembled according to a sixth form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the underside of the labels in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is illustrated several different forms of the novel concept, depicting variations of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the unitary assemblage 10' of a multitude of labels 12 or other similar tags constitutes a file of individual labels arranged edge-to-edge, secured together with a breakable or frangible material forming nexuses 14. In FIG. 1, such labels are illustrated as end fold labels with the folded edges adjacent each other and a strip of adhesive overlapping the folded edges. The individual labels, although normally of woven fabric, could be a non-Woven material used in lieu of fabric. The labels may be printed on their front face (the face oriented downwardly in FIG. 1). The printing may be total or partial. 1f printing of specific type is desired on the labels after being joined into the label strip assembly, they may be conveniently advanced through an imprinter. The labels further may be folded or unfolded. If folded, they may be end folded, loop or center folded, or may have a special fold, e.g., miter fold or pentagonal fold. They may be simply a cut or pinked label.

The end fold labels 1-2 in FIG. 1 have their end portions 12' overlapping the main body portion, to create label edges 12a and fold edge lines 12b. The frangible adhesive material 14- overlaps and is adhered securely to the two label edges 12a of adjacent labels. In normal manufacture of the end fold labels, the folds are ironed down into engagement with the main body of the label. The labeloverlapping nexus formed by the frangible adhesive is of a material which has greater adhesive strength, i.e., between the material and the dissimilar label material, than cohesive strength, i.e. within itself. In other words, the frangible adhesive material will fracture more easily than it will separate from the label material. Hence, each individual label will be separated, when desired, from the assemblage by fracture of this frangible nexus, leaving a clean edge at the label edge of the nexus portions 14. That is, the nexus itself breaks apart along the label edge line rather than pulling loose from either or both of the labels so that there is no overhanging nexus to foul machinery subsequently involved with the labels. Also, by not pulling free from the labels, the nexus material does not disrupt the woven thread structure of the labels. In use, the individual labels can be separated from the assemblage by shear, tension, torsion, or commonly a combination of at least two of these, to break the nexus.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated another form of the assemblage, wherein end fold labels 112 of assemblage 100 have a frangible adhesive material 114 that not only overlaps the label edges, but also overlaps the fold portion edge lines, securely adhering the fold portions to the main body portion of the label to prevent the end fold from becoming disoriented during individual separation of the labels from the label assemblage. In this form, the frangible adhesive material strips 114 constitute a plurality, here three of strips at transversely spaced intervals along the label edge in contrast to the unitary strip illustrated in FIG. 1. In function, strips 114 are very similar to 14, breaking apart to leave neat edges as illustrated at 114'. Although the material is shown here to have substantial thickness for illustrative purposes, normally the thickness of the adhesive is only a few thousandths of an inch, and preferably is of a material which is transparent, so as not to be at all noticeable.

In FIG. 3 is illustrated a third form of assemblage 200 of labels 212 secured temporarily together by frangible adhesive strips 214 that are continuous along the length of the assemblage.

The material useful for adhesive can vary considerably provided the adhesion to cohesion characteristic noted is maintained, provided it has sufiicient strength to allow the labels to be advanced without prematurely separating, yet is sufficiently frangible to be readily broken when it is desired to separate the individual labels from the assemblage. The adhesive should be a solid and not tacky at ambient temperatures, i.e., below about 110 F. Those found suitable are vinyls, e.g., polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers thereof, copolymers of vinyls and polyethylene, e.g., polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl ethylene in equal parts, or various proportions, low melting point nylons that are highly plasticized, and the like.

The frangible adhesive illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 can be applied in a hot melt form directly to the labels, or alternatively, can be placed in solidified form on the juncture between the labels, and then heat and/or pressure activated for placing it in a temporary molten or bonding condition, causing it to adhere, after which it is resolidified by cooling or removal of the pressure. The adhesive is a solid at normal ambient temperatures, i.e., temperatures below approximately 110 F.

The labels forming the assemblage 300 in FIG. 4 are joined by a scrim of a plurality of fusible filaments 314 in random fashion overlapping each other and forming a long continuous web such that, when placed over the back side of labels 312 and heat activated, the labels are unitized. Such long, continuous webs forming a scrim of fusible filaments 314, are well-known in the art and may be obtained, for example, under the tradename Thermogrip Adhesive Web made by the United Shoe Machine Corporation and other similar materials made by Pellon Corporation and others. Such scrims are formed from the same materials utilized for the other embodiments of this invention, as described above. Thus, materials found suitable are vinyls, e.g., polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, copolymers thereof, copolymers of vinyls and polyethylene, e.g., polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl ethylene in equal parts, or various proportions, low melting point nylons that are highly plasticized, and the like. If desired, the

4 end fold labels illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 may be positioned with their side edges adjacent each other rather than their end edges, and so joined.

The assemblage 400 of center fold labels 412 in FIG. 5 has the labels folded slightly off center so that the main face 412a of the label overlaps the back face 41212. By so doing, the inside surface of the front face 412a is exposed to the rear such that, when the frangible adhesive strips 414 are positioned in overlapping relation with respect to the adjacent labels, the adhesive bonds to the back side of portion 41212, to an inside surface of portion 412a, and then to the adjacent label, causing the folded labels to retain its secure folded condition without becoming disoriented by separation of individual labels. Hence, when the endmost label is removed, the adhesive strip 414 breaks as at 414 to leave a clean label edge.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 is illustrated a special fold label in assemblage 500 with the front face being illustrated in FIG. 6 and the rear face in FIG. 7. These individual labels 512 have their ends 512a folded perpendicular to the main dimension of the label. Each label is positioned with its side edge immediately adjacent the next label side edge, overlapping the folded ends 512a such that the adhesive junctures 514 forms nexuses therebetween.

The several different versions of the concept illustrate the many different types of labels and arrangements which can be achieved to suit the particular style of label, circumstances, mode of desired label strip feed and the like. It is conceivable that many additional variations can be made within the concept presented. Such label assemblages can be of any desired length, being readily formed into a roll or other suitable storage configuration. The labels may be preprinted prior to assembling, and can have further imprinting conducted on them after assembling, by advancing the label strip through the imprinter While using an edge of the label for indexing. Further, the complete label can be advanced to a sewing machine or the like for attachment to clothing or similar articles using desired feed means to advance the endmost label, using the edge of the label for indexing, and then applying a separating force in tension, shear, and/or torsion to cause the nexus to cleanly break along the label edge.

Additional advantages and features of the concept may well be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, the invention being intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonable equivalents thereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A label assemblage comprising: a plurality of edgeto-edge labels; frangible nexuses between the label edges, adhered to the labels, and bonding said labels into a unitary assemblage; each of said frangible nexuses being frangible, causing said labels to be selectively separable from said assemblage by breakage of said frangible nexuses, said frangible nexuses constituting separate solid bonding agents.

2. The label assemblage in claim 1 wherein said bonding agent comprises a polymer material dissimilar to the material of said labels, and having greater adhesive strength to the dissimilar material of said labels than cohesive strength within itself, enabling such agent to break neatly at the label edges without disrupting the label structure and without leaving excessive agent overhanging the label edges.

3. The assemblage in claim 2 wherein said labels have folded edge portions forming fold edges and said label edges; and said bonding agent extends over said fold edges as well as extending between said label edges to form said nexuses.

4. The assemblage in claim 1 wherein said nexuses are formed of a continuous scrim of fusible filaments bonded to said labels.

5. A method of forming an assemblage of labels which References Cited grssisneetcfiivstl pingltividually separable for use thereof com- UNITED STATES PATENTS positioning a plurality of labels edge-to-edge; joining 3,270,872 9/1966 Paxton 206 56 said label edges by placing in overlapping relation 5 3,312,005 4/1967 MCEITOY 161 39 X with said edges an adhesive which comprises a fran- 3,035,957 5/1962 Morgan 161-406 X gible solid at ambient temperatures, and bonding said 3,511,746 5/1970 Dawes 161 147 adhesive to said labels to form frangible nexuses 31532586 10/1970 Haurey Ct 31 161406 X therebetween.

6. The method in claim 5 wherein said adhesive is of a 10 PHILIP DIER Primary Exammer dissimilar material than the material of said labels, and U S Cl has greater adhesive strength to the material of said labels than cohesive strength within itself. 402.2; 161-92, 99, 145, 147, 406; 206-56 

